The Hidden Struggles Behind Dallas Cowboys' Cheerleaders: A Tale of Passion and Pay Disparity

EXCLUSIVE: Behind-the-Scenes Look at Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' Shocking Salary Revealed!

Get ready for a dose of reality, folks! The second season of Netflix's hit documentary series "America's Sweethearts" has dropped, giving fans an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of the iconic Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. But what you won't see in the show is the shocking truth about these talented ladies' salaries.

According to sources close to the team, being a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader doesn't exactly come with a six-figure paycheck. In fact, one former DCC exclusively spoke to TheScholarlyNote.com and revealed that she made between $15,000 and $22,000 per year while part of the squad! That's a far cry from the millions earned by their NFL counterparts.

But it's not all bad news. Cheerleaders can increase their earnings by taking on special appearances, with rates based on their tenure as part of the DCC. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to get paid to perform in front of thousands of adoring fans?

Other reports suggest that Cowboys cheerleaders earn between $15-20 per hour or $500 per game - which translates to a healthier $75,000 yearly salary. But even that number is still significantly lower than what their NFL counterparts take home.

In recent years, the issue of cheerleaders' pay has been under the microscope, with one former DCC actually filing a lawsuit in 2017. As a result, the franchise increased its hourly rate from $8 to $12 and doubled the game-day fee from $200 to $400.

But even with these increases, Charlotte Jones, the chief brand officer (and daughter of owner Jerry Jones), has admitted that cheerleaders are still underpaid. In an exclusive interview for "America's Sweethearts," she said: "There's a lot of cynicism around pay for NFL cheerleaders — as it should be. They're not paid a lot... But the facts are, they actually don't come here for the money. They come here for something that's actually bigger than that to them."

Jones went on to explain that being a Cowboys cheerleader is about more than just the paycheck: "They have a passion for dance. There are not a lot of opportunities in the field of dance to get to perform at an elite level. It is about being a part of something bigger than themselves... They have a chance to feel like they are valued, they are special, and they are making a difference."

And while it may not be easy being a Cowboys cheerleader - with strict rules governing their appearance, including how their hair and makeup are done - many team members agree that the sisterhood and sense of belonging make it all worthwhile.

As our exclusive source put it: "You get hooked on the sisterhood of it all." So, even though these talented ladies may not be rolling in dough, they're still getting a whole lot more out of their experience than just a paycheck.